Top 5 must-have winter hanging items

I'm interested in rounding out my novice hammock gear with some essential winter hanging equipment. I don't have unlimited funds (who does?) so i'd like to be wise with what I purchase.

I'd like to hear what you would consider the top 5 most essential items for staying comfortable down to zero degrees F. That includes anything (hammock accessories, clothes, hiking equip., etc.) except for the hammock itself. Don't hesitate to include details like brand and model.

...or you can list your top 5 favorite quotes from Monty Python's Holy Grail...

1. Down tq
2. Down uq
3. Down beanie from Blackrock
4. Down booties from Arrowhead
5. Merino wool baselayer. (HA! you thought I was going to write 'down baselayer,' didncha? :D)

oh, and 'It's just a scratch!' :lol:

1. Down Under Quilt - I have an UGQ 0 Degree Zeppelin
2. Down Top Quilt - I have and UGQ 0 Degree Flight Jacket
3. Big Tarp with doors - I have a Warbonnet Superfly
4. Good merino wool base layer - many brands out there
5. Hot water bottle in a sock or cozy in the hammock with you when going to bed - This heats up your quilts a little before getting in and is good for keeping your feet warm or other parts of your body as needed.

No particular order
UQ HG
TQ HG
First Ascent UL Down jacket
FITS Wool Socks
MountainGoat Hats Wool Hat

MP Quotes
Some call me Tim
What behind the bunny
Minor Flesh Wound
Blue no green......AAAAAHHHHH
I clean my nose in your general direction

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bubba

1. Down Under Quilt - I have an UGQ 0 Degree Zeppelin
2. Down Top Quilt - I have and UGQ 0 Degree Flight Jacket
3. Big Tarp with doors - I have a Warbonnet Superfly
4. Good merino wool base layer - many brands out there
5. Hot water bottle in a sock or cozy in the hammock with you when going to bed - This heats up your quilts a little before getting in and is good for keeping your feet warm or other parts of your body as needed.

---

+1 on all that. I'd add that a Nalgene Canteen (which is more bag than bottle) is IMHO the best tool for the job...and it would feel irresponsible not to emphasize "hot" water is great but boiling water is unnecessary and likely not safe.

1. Common Sense
2. Experienced Companions
3. Bail-out Options
4. Knowing when to bail
5. Experience getting down to zero (40 then 30 then 20 then 10).

Anyone can buy / borrow gear. The objective is to enjoy the outing.

5. You're using coconuts!
4. Bring out yer dead.
3. Well she turned me into a newt... I got better.
2. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.


and my fav...

1. Must be a king... He hasn't got $#!& all over him.

1) DIY Down Underquilt
2) DIY Down TQ
3) Columbia base gear pants/shirt
4) Black Rock DIY Beanie
5) Kelty 12 for door mode

1) All I need is a bucket
2) That's just silly
3) He's a fierce bunny....
4) Bring out the holy hand grenade
5) Blue, no no Red!

:shades:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Roche

1. Common Sense
2. Experienced Companions
3. Bail-out Options
4. Knowing when to bail
5. Experience getting down to zero (40 then 30 then 20 then 10).

Anyone can buy / borrow gear. The objective is to enjoy the outing.

---

+1 on this...most important over gear in my opinion. :shades:

Wool clothing is defiantly what you want for winter clothing, from first layer to last layer. Except, wool clothing is expensive.
Don't forget a good way to start a fire. Lighters don't like the cold. I always have a firesteel with me, and I carry a little waterproof box of tinder, made up of some cotton balls, and a bag of pre-shaven magnesium.
What you'll really need the most, is experience!

Agree what other have listed.

I would agree with the Blackrock hat for typical cool whether camping but for full on deep winter, I like a zip off down hood from my big ole down parka.

A small piece of reflectix is maybe the one other must have. It can literally save a night's sleep, use under your feet or under your butt, even as a sit pad.

David

1. Knowledge
2. Prudence
3. Companions
4. Practice
5. Luck

Those are just the top 5, not all you need.

Don't underestimate the importance of practice. ("I listen, and I hear; I see, and I understand; I do, and I know.")

Don't count too heavily on luck; it really doesn't belong on a preparedness list, but you don't want to be out of it.

It helps if your companions are knowledgeable, prudent, experienced, and lucky. (Been there, done that. ;))

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Roche

1. Common Sense
2. Experienced Companions
3. Bail-out Options
4. Knowing when to bail
5. Experience getting down to zero (40 then 30 then 20 then 10).

Anyone can buy / borrow gear. The objective is to enjoy the outing.

---

That's a good place to start on any outing, not just the winter trips.

Here is my list of items required for cold weather outing.
1) Tarp with doors - Need to get out of the elements
2) UQ/TQ rated for temps expected - Down or synthetic doesn't matter
3) Fleece Clothing - Wool doesn't like me as much as I like it
4) Food/Water - Feed the machine to generate warmth
5) Communication Device - Just in case things don't go the way I expected

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boilers23

I'd like to hear what you would consider the top 5 most essential items for staying comfortable down to zero degrees F. That includes anything (hammock accessories, clothes, hiking equip., etc.) except for the hammock itself. Don't hesitate to include details like brand and model.

...or you can list your top 5 favorite quotes from Monty Python's Holy Grail...

---

1) Temperature appropriate Insulation (TQ, UQ, clothing, etc)
2) Cookware/stove that will operate at those temperatures. I prefer wood stoves (Emberlit, Bushbuddy, etc) in winter temperatures
3) Good wood processing tools if your are going to be having a camp fire to cook and keep you warm
4) Method to dry out your gear (including insulation) when it gets damp or
5) Frost bib to hang from ridgeline to prevent moisture getting on your top quilt.
6) Good tarp that the ends can close in to block wind
7) If you've never winter camped before, take a course on how or attend a group hang at a local campground that has heated shelters or easy bail out options.

Be smart and be safe.

Cheers

Brian

5 ?hmmmmmm
1. A hot tarp, like Smokehouse makes, and since it's a hot tarp, that includes the wood stove, so I still have 4 left.
2. Good wood
3. More good wood
4. Even more wood
5. Plenty of good food. Haha, thought I was going to say more wood, didn't ya?

........RR

1. Good Underquilt or Pad (depending on the temps your looking at)
2. Good Top Quilt or Sleeping bag, appropriately rated for the temps your going into
3. Big Winter Tarp with doors to cut the wind
4. Warm Clothing (from the outermost layer to your base, including your head and feet.)
5. Winter Sock might be nice.

1. "That parrot is dead. . . deceased, demised. He is no more."
2. "I'm a lumberjack and I"m ok. . ."
3. "Look at the bones man. . ."
4. "All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us?"
5. "And now for something Completely different."

Go away or I shall taunt you a second timeaaa. :lol:

5. " nice costume."
4. "Johnny, tell them what they won."
3. "You can take the money or...."
2. "It's a brand new car"
1. "You can have whats behind door #1 or door #2"

Did he say Monty Hall or Monty Python?:confused::D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WV

1. Knowledge
2. Prudence
3. Companions
4. Practice
5. Luck

Those are just the top 5, not all you need.

Don't underestimate the importance of practice. ("I listen, and I hear; I see, and I understand; I do, and I know.")

Don't count too heavily on luck; it really doesn't belong on a preparedness list, but you don't want to be out of it.

It helps if your companions are knowledgeable, prudent, experienced, and lucky. (Been there, done that. ;))

---

+1 !!!!!

We just had this talk this past weekend (Jerzybear and I ) about winter camping /Backpacking

Knowledge is big to me...
1- know your gear inside and out
2-know when to bail or ask for help .. pride can kill in 0F
3-know how to setup and take down fast in the bitter cold(again knowing your gear inside and out ) your fingers will thank you ;)
4-know YOUR limits .. everyones limits will be different but know- YOURS -
know the limits of your gear and cloths .. don't wear jeans and sneakers to a winter camp out in snow and expect to be warn... don't bring a poncho lines UQ or a summer UQ to a 0F hang ... Bring Proper gear !!!
5-Use Common Sense :) ... this is a No Brainer to me

remember winter camping/backpacking is a learned art that takes time to master ... you will fail or forget something but remember to learn from it and have fun ..

To start an awareness that any three mistakes (regardless of size) will combine & result in your death (Yes one of them is being foolish enough to go)is the key to winter gear. Therefore Redundancy is paramount, never allow yourself to be dependent upon a single piece of gear. As to actual gear selection.
1) A combination of down & synthetic insulation. Use the synthetic to move the dew point past the down, reducing the amount of moisture build up.
2) Because of it being one of the most reliable, yet over looked pieces of kit. A closed cell foam pad or combination there of. While many will tout under quilts for their warmth & weight. A simple foam pad should always be taken. I keep a Ridge-rest solar & exped multimat in my kit.
3) A sleeping bag in place of a top quilt. Appropriate to insulate to 70 degrees with out the aid of your belay / camp jacket. For down this would mean 1 inch of loft for every 16-20 degrees needed. Synthetics can be calculated based on the amount of down needed.
4) Avalanche beacon, shovel, & probe. (make sure it's a good shovel)
5)A couple of chem warmers, glow sticks & the good ol tin foil blanket just encase.

Edit: Looks like numbers 4 & 5 are more about safety than for staying comfy. So let me add a good set of softshell bibs & a warm hoodie will always be more comfy than a pair of pants & jacket. From there almost nothing can beet a nice dry pair of warm socks at the end of the day.

Air. Trapped warm, dry air is the secret.

Nothing beats experience, and bad ones at that. Just got back from a overnight trip near Blood Mountain GA. With the wind chill it was in the 20s. Two guys brought tents "because I want to stay warm". Two of us brought our hammocks. They froze, we slept like baby angels.

1. Down top & bottom quilt
2. Wool clothing
3. Fire
4. Food
5. Bourbon
6. More bourbon

Enjoy !!!/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boilers23

I'm interested in rounding out my novice hammock gear with some essential winter hanging equipment. I don't have unlimited funds (who does?) so i'd like to be wise with what I purchase.

I'd like to hear what you would consider the top 5 most essential items for staying comfortable down to zero degrees F. That includes anything (hammock accessories, clothes, hiking equip., etc.) except for the hammock itself. Don't hesitate to include details like brand and model.

---

If its zero degrees I better be in snow:)

#1 Adjustable Insulation (Hammock and body)
#2 Good sized tarp
#3 A reliable way to cook and get water
#4 FOOD (If your hungry your cold)
$5 Pulk (Brought whole world of awesomeness:) )


Quilts cant go wrong with most of the cottage vendors (I am a particular fan of Leigh-lo and Hammock Gear)

Tarps cant go wrong with most. Warbonnet Superfly seems the most popular option. I currently use one from Gargoyle.

Stoves are more individual tastes but most use white gas or Wood-burning during the Winter. Canisters don't perform as well at sub freezing temps.
I have heard mixed reviews on Alcohol for sub freezing temps. But some use it.